SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF EXPLORATIONS BY THE U. S. FISH COM- MISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS.
| Published by permission of Hon. Marshall McDonald, Commissioner of Fisheries.]
No. IX.—CATALOGUE OF FISHES COLLECTED AT PORT CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA, BY THE STEAMER ALBATROSS, NOVEMBER, 1886.
In the fall and winter of 18*>8-'89 the steamer Albatross made a voy- age from Norfolk, Va., arouud Cape Horn to San Francisco, in the interests of the U. S. Fish Commission. During- this trip large collec- tions of fishes were made. In the present paper I give an enumeration of the species found at Port Castries on the island of St. Lucia, in the West Indies. The specimens collected are in the U. S. National Museum. A partial series is in the University of Indiana.
TORPEDINIDJE.
1. Narcine brasiliensis. STOLEPHORIDiE.
2. Stolephoriis browni (Gmelin). Abundant. 3. Stolephoriis perfasciatus (Poey).
CLUPEID^l.
4. Opisthonema oglinum (Lo Sueur). 5. Harengula arcuata (Jenyns). 6. Harengula macrophthama (Ranzani). Two species of Harengula are abundant in this collection. These two species, and a third (27. sarMna Poey). have been recognized by Poey and fairly well distinguished. It is probable that all the nominal species of this group in the West Indian fauna should be referred to the synonymy of these three. These may be generally recognized by the following characters: a. Scales firm and very adherent, so that in ordinary specimens very few if any are lost. Each scale with one to four vertical striae, well defined and more or
less curved ; veutral scutes about lG-f-12 ; scales on back before dorsal more or less laciuiate.
Proceedings National Museum, Vol. XII—No. 78i). 645 ) ) ;;
64G FISHES FROM ST. LUCIA, WEST INDIES JORDAN.
6. Body deep, with the ventral outline forming an even curve from cliin to vent;
depth of body, 2f to 3 in length to base of caudal (3j to 3| with caudal) ; head, 3| in length, 1£ to 1^ in depth of body; eye moderate, one-third longer than snout, 2§ in head; insertion of ventrals nearer tip of snout than base of caudal; dark humeral spot often obscure or wanting; usually a row of dark points extending backward from it along upper part of sides of body; caudal pale. (Specimens from Cedar Keys, Key West, Havana, and St. Lucia) Akcuata. bb. Body more elongate, the ventral outline little convex, forming a weak arch (4i depth of body, 3f in length to base of caudal with caudal); head, 3? in length, 1 to ly in depth of body; eye large, li longer than snout, 2J in head; insertion of ventrals nearly midway between snout and base of cau- dal; dark humeral spot usually evident, sometimes wanting; above this spot a narrow dark streak extends, bounding the dark color of the back
just above this a pale streak ; caudal dusky ; scales a little less striate than in the others. (Specimens from St. Lucia) Macropiithalma. aa. Scales less firm and little adherent, so that many of them are lost in ordinary museum or market specimens; each scale with about four wavy vertical
strke on its free edge ; ventral scutes, 15+10 ; body rather elongate, the ven- tral outline little convex, forming a weak arch; depth of body, 3^ to 3£ in
length (4^ with caudal) ; head, 3^ in leifgth, lf in depth of body; eye very large, one- third longer than snout, 2\ in head; insertion of ventrals nearly midway between snout and base of caudal; color pale; no dark humeral
spot ; caudal pale. (Specimens from Key West and Havana) Clupeola. The following seems to be the synonymy of the species, most of the earlier descriptions being so loosely drawn as to be more or less uncer- tain. The nomenclature is therefore throughout only provisional.
HARENGULA ARCUATA.
Sardina Escamuda.
tfilupea arcuala Jenyns, Ichth. Voy. Beagle, 1842, 134. (Bahia Blanca). Harengula humeralis Cuv. & Val., xx, 293, 1847. (Guadaloupe.) Clupea humeralis Giinther, vn, 422. (Bahia, Jamaica, Trinidad, Dominica, Barba- does.) Alosa striata Cuv. & Val., xx, 429. (Guadaloupe.) Harengula (?) clupeola Poey. Enuineratio, etc. (Havana.) Clupea clupeola Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1886, 33. (Havana.) Harengula pmsacolw,* Goode and Bean. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 152. (Peu- sacola. Clupea pensacohv Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 107. (Key West.)
HARENGULA MACROPIITHALMA.
? Clupea macropiithalma Ranzani, "Nov. Com. Ac. Sc. Inst. Bonon., v, 1842, 320, tab. 23" (fide Giinther): Giinther, VII, 421. (Cuba, St. Croix, Jamaica, Barbadoes.)
? Harengula maculosa Cuv. & Val., xx, 292, 1847. (Martinique.)
Harengula jaguana Poey, Repertorio, 1, 190, I860. (Jagua, near Cienfuegos.
* Specimens from Florida seem to average a little deeper in body than those from Cuba. This difference becomes, however, inappreciable on the examination of large numbers of specimeus. )
VO n l889. '] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 647
HARENGULA CLUPEOLA.
Sardina Dc Ley.
1 Harengula clupeola Cuv. & Val., xx, 289, 1847. (Martinique. Harengula sardina Poey, Memorias, n, 310, 18G1. (Havana.) Clvpea sardina .Ionian, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 106 (Key West); ibid., 1886, 33 (Havana). Harengula callolepis Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 152. (Bermuda.) EXOCCETIDiE.
7. Hemiramphus unifasciatus Ranzani. BELONIDiE.
8. Tylosurus raphidoma (Ranzani). 9. Tylosurus euryops (Bean). A single specimen, agreeing with the description given by Jordan and Fordice (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas., 1S86, 317). SYNGNATHID5!.
10. Siphostoma rousseau (Kanp).
Syngnathns elueens Poey, Synopsis, 1867, 143. A small, slender species, with the snout one-fourth longer than the 1(5 rest of the head top of head with a slight keel ; rings 34 = 50. ; + Dorsal rays 20 to 28, the fin covering 1A + 5 rings. Vent midway between tip of snout and twenty-third caudal segment. Head almost three times in distance from tip of snout to vent. Lateral line inter- rupted above the vent. Head 7£ in length. This specimen agrees very closely with the short account given by Kanp of a specimen sent by Alexandre Kousseau from Martinique. The Syngnathus elueens of Poey seems to be the same. Poey counts H- + 4 rings under the dorsal. This species is close to the European Siphostoma pelagicum, but the latter is more slender, with longer snout and longer head, 6| to 7j in length to base of caudal. The Euro- pean Siphostoma agassisi is also closely related, but that species is stouter than S. rousseau, with shorter snout.
MUR.33NID.a3.
11. Gymnothorax funebris (Ranzani). A young specimen. 12. Echidna catenata (Bloch). Several young specimens in good condition. MUGILID^J. 13. Mugil curema Cuv. & Val. Common. 14. Querimana gyrans Jordan & Gilbert. Several specimens about 1£ inches in length. Teeth in upper jaw comparatively strong; apparently no teeth in the lower. Anal rays
II, 9 or II, 10, not II, 7 or 8, as counted in the original types. 648 FISHES FROM ST. LUCIA, WEST INDIES—JORDAN.
SPHYRJENIDiE
15. Sphyraena guaguanche (Gov. & Val. POLYNEMIDiE.
16. Polydactylies virginicus (L.) SCOMBRIDiE.
17. Auxis thazard (Lacepede). 18. Scomberomorus cavalla (Cuvier). CARANGIDiE.
19. Oligoplites saurus (Blocli & Schneider). 20. Chloroscombrus chrysurus (L.). 21. Trachurops crumenophthalmus (Blocli). 22. Caranx latus Agassiz. 23. Vomer setipinnis (Mitchell). 24. Selene vomer (L.). 25. Trachinotus falcatus (L.). (Trachynotus ovatus authors.) HOLOCENTRIDiE.
26. Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbcck).
SERRANIDiE.
27. Rypticus saponaceus (L.). 28. Bodianus cruentatus (Lac^pede). 29. Mycteroperca venenosa guttata (Bloch).
SPARIDiE.
30. Lutjanus jocu (Bloch & Schneider). 31. Lutjanus caxis (Bloch & Schneider). 32. Lutjanus synagris (L.). 33. Lutjanus analis (Cuv. & Val.). 34. Lutjanus vivanus (Cuv. & Val.).
( Lutjanus profundus Poey). 35. Lutjanus buccanella (Cuv. and Val.). 36. Haemulon parra (Desmarest). (Utnnulon acutum Poey). 37. Haemulon plumieri (Lacepede). 38. Haemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest). 39. Haemulon schranki Agassiz. (Hwmulon steindachneri Jordan & Gilbert.) Not before taken north of Brazil.
40. Haemulon chrysargyreum Giinther.
41. Haemulon aurolineatum (Cuv. cV Val.). 42. Haemulon striatum (L.). (Hastnulon quadrilineatum Cuv. & Val.) 43. Conodon nobilis (L.). 44. Calamus bajonado (Bloch & Schneider). V II: T^9. ] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 649
MWL-LID2E.
45. Upeneus maculatus (Blocli).
BCI2BNID2EI.
46. Larimus breviceps Cuv. & Val. 47. Odontoscion dentex (Cuv. & Val.). 48. Corvula sanctae-luciae sp. nov. (Type, No. 41732, U. S. N. M.). Allied to Corvula subcequalis (Poey), but with a larger mouth, shorter peetoral, and different coloration.
Head, 3^ in length; depth, 3^; D. XI-I, 23 : A. II, 8; scales, C-46-10. Length of type, 5f inches. Body oblong, moderately compressed, the back moderately elevated. Head rather short and blunt, the anterior profile uniform, and slightly arched. Snout short, shorter than eye, 4^ in head. Eye large, 3f in head, a little greater than interorbital space. Mouth considerably oblique, the jaws equal, the preinaxillary in front on the level of lower part of pupil, the maxillary extending to beyond Hue of middle of pupil, 2| in head ; teeth of upper jaw in a narrow baud, the outer moderately enlarged ; teeth of lower jaw moderate, not quite equal, almost in one series preopercle with its membranous finely ; edge den- tate gill rakers long and slender, 15. ; about x + Scales large and firm, those above lateral line anteriorly in series parallel with the lateral line ; at a point below last dorsal rays each series is suddenly bent upward, and then again becomes horizontal. Rows of scales be- low lateral line horizontal and nearly straight. Dorsal spines slender; soft dorsal and anal scaly at base; caudal (broken) apparently subtrun-
cate ; pectoral very short, in head, reaching about to eighth dorsal spine; anal small, inserted backward, its second spiue moderate. Dis- stance from insertion of ventral to first anal spine one and one-fifth times depth of body. Coloration silvery, with about fourteen hori- zontal dark stripes, as in some other species of Corvula aud Larimus. These stripes are continuous, and those above bend upward underneath last dorsal spines; fins pale yellowish, all more or less soiled with dark points ; a faint dark axillary spot; lining of gill cavity pale. One specimen, from St. Lucia. 49. Umbriua broussoneti (Cuv. aud Val.) 50. Micropogon fournieri (Desmarest.)
GERRIDiE.
51. Gerres olisthostoma Goode & Beau. 52. Gerres rhombeus Cuv. & Val. 53. Gerres gula Cuv. & Val. 54. Gerres pseudogula (Poey.)
Very close to the Florida species, Gerres harencjulus, but a little more slender, and with rather weaker anal spines. In the paper on this 650 FISHES FROM ST. LUCIA, WEST INDIES JORDAN. genus by Everrnann and Meek (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1886, 261), Gerres harei\gulus, as represented by specimens from Florida and Cuba, was referred to the syuouymy of the west coast Gerres gracilis. The two species are very closely related. A comparison of specimens show that G. liarengulus has a blunter suout, somewhat larger eye, aud larger anal spines than G. gracilis. Eye, 21 in head ; snout, f ; second anal spine, 2§ to 3£ in head iu G. harengulus from Key West; (3^, 3^, 4J in G. gracilis from Guaymas). It is, however, not always possible to dis- tinguish G. harengulus, G. pseudogula, G. gracilis and G. dowi, and per- haps all should be regarded as varieties of one, G. gracilis.
EPHIPPIDiE.
55. Chaetodipterus faber (L.)
CHiETODONTID^.
56. Chaetodon striatus Bloch. 57. Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch. 58. Chaetodon sedentarius Foey. 59. Chaetodon capistratus L. 60. Holacanthus tricolor (Bloch).
ACANTHURIDiE.
61. Acanthurus hepatus (L.) 62. Acanthurus bahianus Castelman.
(Acanthurus tract its Foey.) 63. Acanthurus cceruleus (Bloch & Schneider.)
LABRIDiE.
64. Halichceres maculipinna (Miiller & Troschel.) 65. Halichceres bivittatus (Bloch). 66. Platyglossus dimidiatus (Agassiz). 67. Sparisoma flavescens (Bloch & Schneider). 68. Sparisoma abildgaardi (Bloch). 69. Sparisoma aurofrenatum (Cuv. & Val.). 70. Sparisoma hoplomystax (Cope). (S. cyanolene Jordan & Swain.) Abundant, as is also the next species. The fact of the wide distribu- tion of these two species is an interesting one, as until very lately both have been overlooked or else not intelligibly described. 71. Sparisoma xystrodon Jordan & Swain. 72. Scarus cceruleus (Bloch). 73. Scarus croicensis (Bloch). One young specimen.
74. Scarus acutus Foey. V n °l889. '] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 651
One specimen. In spirits, dark above, with a paler area extending from pectorals to base of caudal. Caudal subtruncate, with the angles slightly produced. No posterior canines. Scales on cheek in four rows, those of the first row largest, the third row with six or seven scales; body rather elongate, the depth 3f in length; snout compara- tively sharp, 25 in length of head; eye small.
MALACANTHIDiE.
75. Malacanthus plumieri (Bloch).
GOBIIDiE.
76. Gobius soporator Cuv. & Val.
SCORPiENIDiE.
77. Scorpaena plumieri Bloch. 78. Scorpaena grandicornis Cuv. cV Val.
DACTYLOSCOPIDiE.
79. Dactyloscopus tridigitatus Gill.
Dactyloscopus poeyi Gill (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1861, 2G0) seems to be the same species. PLEURONECTIDiE.
80. Syacium micrurum Rauzani. 81. Platophrys lunatus (L.). 82. Symphurus pusillus (Goode & Bean).
Depth, 3 in length ; scales, 88. Dark gray, with very obscure brown cross-bands. Fins, including caudal, pale, with dusky blotches at short intervals. This specimen is identical with the one taken by Dr. O. P. Jenkins at Beaufort, North Caroliua, mentioned by Jordan and Goss, Beview Pleurou., p. 326. It is decidedly different from the common S. plagusia of the West Indies, and seems to be specifically distinct from S. plagiusa. I may here note that the appearance of " keeled scales " on Symphurus nebulosus (Goode & Bean) is due to a black line on the skin under the center of each row of scales. There seems to be no real keel and the species is congoueric with the other species of Symphurus. EALISTIDiE.
83. Monacanthus pullus (Ranzani).
TETRAODONTID-S3.
84. Spheroides testudineus (L.).
DIODONTIDiE.
85. Diodon hystrix L. 652 FISHES FROM ST. LUCIA, WEST INDIES JORDAN.
OSTRACIIDiE.
86. Ostracion bicaudale L. ANTENNARIIDiE.
87. Antennarius scaber (Cuvier). One small specimen. Body ligbt brown, clouded with darker. Fins all with round black spots, tbose at the base of the dorsal somewhat larger than others. Ventrals tipped with black.
University of Indiana, December 11, 1881).